Godric wrote:He is more consistent... a 10000000x better playmaker and he is the way better back checker as well.

now that we've settled which way is up....this is still a little dubious.

bennett's a better playmaker, of course. let's get that out of the way. "way better backchecker" is a silly, though. it's not much of an art form for these types of players - either they do it, or they don't. and as far as i can tell, they both do it. and i'd avoid touting the consistency of a guy who has been in the league for 5 minutes. kennedy's had a rockey season, but he has a history of being remarkably consistent.

overall, bennett looks really, really good. i'm not going to complain if they ever put him in the lineup over tk. but it's not really a slam dunk. especially considering kennedy's playoff history. which is nothing to sneeze at.

If LTGK (Little Tiger Grinder Kennedy) made 750k and played on the 4th line winger, I'd be his biggest fan. This kid rode off Staal for 5 seasons. His little tiger grinding style is only effective at 10ft of the rink is all that Staal needed. Someone quick to cycle the puck with him.

I really thought Jordan and Skinner would be scoring a lot in Carolina together. Maybe another season together. Skinner is just like Kennedy, but can score 20 more goals per year.

i suppose. but i floated the idea of our bottom 2 lines being something like:

morrow - jokinen - bennettcooke - sutter - tk

while it's maybe not the best idea to load up on offense at the expense of adams and glass, playing TK and Bennett in their spots isn't exactly like putting sykora and satan out there. they both play 2-way games and have no issue getting dirty.

MRandall25 wrote:So what you're saying, Nizzy, is that there's nothing wrong with TK except for his contract.

Honestly, yes + his playing location (3rd line)

I think he's a legit 4th line talent, nothing more. I never said he wasn't a NHL player. Jordan Staal was a big body that took up space, and allowed TK some decent space at times.

TK isn't the worth problem in the world. I think he would be noticed more on the 4th line, as it would fit him better. Maybe some less minutes = more with LTGK?

It's just going to impossible to keep him next year with the cap. He's not worth 1.5+. He hasn't improved any area of his game from 4 years ago. Honestly, the best thing for the situation would be for TK to score like 8 goals in this playoff run or something sick, and then let some dumb team like Phoenix pay him 2.5M per.

BB on that entry level contract next year in the top 9 will be clutch for signing Morrow/Iggy for another 1-2 years.

Nizzy wrote:If LTGK (Little Tiger Grinder Kennedy) made 750k and played on the 4th line winger, I'd be his biggest fan. This kid rode off Staal for 5 seasons. His little tiger grinding style is only effective at 10ft of the rink is all that Staal needed. Someone quick to cycle the puck with him.

I really thought Jordan and Skinner would be scoring a lot in Carolina together. Maybe another season together. Skinner is just like Kennedy, but can score 20 more goals per year.

I'd rather have Andy Hilbert for 2.0M than LTGK.

At this point of this season, salary cap hit means nothing. So, with that being said, if you'd take TK at $700k for the fourth line, what's the difference if he makes $2 mil. on the fourth line? The Pens have excess cap space and he has not hindered them from adding any players.

I'm not a fan of TK, but I don't understand this line of thinking, nor do I understand the line of thinking that there is no way he should dress in the playoffs. Like others on the team, he'll get the initial nod because of experience. He has earned that and because of that, he stands a better chance of helping in the high-pressure playoffs. That said, if he falters, BB will be knocking on the door and should get a chance relatively quickly -- at which point, he'll earn his experience and will solidify his spot in the future.

Nizzy wrote:If LTGK (Little Tiger Grinder Kennedy) made 750k and played on the 4th line winger, I'd be his biggest fan. This kid rode off Staal for 5 seasons. His little tiger grinding style is only effective at 10ft of the rink is all that Staal needed. Someone quick to cycle the puck with him.

I really thought Jordan and Skinner would be scoring a lot in Carolina together. Maybe another season together. Skinner is just like Kennedy, but can score 20 more goals per year.

I'd rather have Andy Hilbert for 2.0M than LTGK.

At this point of this season, salary cap hit means nothing. So, with that being said, if you'd take TK at $700k for the fourth line, what's the difference if he makes $2 mil. on the fourth line? The Pens have excess cap space and he has not hindered them from adding any players.

I'm not a fan of TK, but I don't understand this line of thinking, nor do I understand the line of thinking that there is no way he should dress in the playoffs. Like others on the team, he'll get the initial nod because of experience. He has earned that and because of that, he stands a better chance of helping in the high-pressure playoffs. That said, if he falters, BB will be knocking on the door and should get a chance relatively quickly -- at which point, he'll earn his experience and will solidify his spot in the future.

Defence21 wrote:I'm not a fan of TK, but I don't understand this line of thinking, nor do I understand the line of thinking that there is no way he should dress in the playoffs. Like others on the team, he'll get the initial nod because of experience. He has earned that and because of that, he stands a better chance of helping in the high-pressure playoffs. That said, if he falters, BB will be knocking on the door and should get a chance relatively quickly -- at which point, he'll earn his experience and will solidify his spot in the future.

Locks at forward (if healthy): Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Kunitz, Dupuis, Iginla, Morrow, Sutter, Cooke, Jokinen. thats 10 guys, 4 penalty killers. One more must be a penalty killer, likely Adams or Glass. Deal with it. Jokinen probably keeps Vitale out of the lineup. one of TK or BB gets the last spot. I don't see how both can play without short changing the PK.

I have always wondered from an outside perspective why Tyler Kennedy is playing on anything but the 4th line.. good to see it wasn't just an outsiders perspective.

Jarmoe Imgla brings a lot more to the table than what you will see on the ice. He is a born leader, people respect him no matter which side of the ice they are on. Jarome's true value comes in the dressing room. Classy player that will boost the confidence of those around him and just make them want to play harder.

The other area Iggy is going to boost the Pens is on the physical side. I was really hoping the Pens would meet up with a team that has given them physical problems before in the playoffs, because that is exactly where Iggy will thrive. A lot of teams in the past have had the strategy of don't wake him up, don't hit him, don't trash talk him and whatever you do don't piss him off. I suspect a lot of players out east here won't be used to playing against Iggy as much and will make that mistake a few times through out the playoffs. Then you are all in for a real treat

Nizzy wrote:If LTGK (Little Tiger Grinder Kennedy) made 750k and played on the 4th line winger, I'd be his biggest fan. This kid rode off Staal for 5 seasons. His little tiger grinding style is only effective at 10ft of the rink is all that Staal needed. Someone quick to cycle the puck with him.

I really thought Jordan and Skinner would be scoring a lot in Carolina together. Maybe another season together. Skinner is just like Kennedy, but can score 20 more goals per year.

I'd rather have Andy Hilbert for 2.0M than LTGK.

At this point of this season, salary cap hit means nothing. So, with that being said, if you'd take TK at $700k for the fourth line, what's the difference if he makes $2 mil. on the fourth line? The Pens have excess cap space and he has not hindered them from adding any players.

I'm not a fan of TK, but I don't understand this line of thinking, nor do I understand the line of thinking that there is no way he should dress in the playoffs. Like others on the team, he'll get the initial nod because of experience. He has earned that and because of that, he stands a better chance of helping in the high-pressure playoffs. That said, if he falters, BB will be knocking on the door and should get a chance relatively quickly -- at which point, he'll earn his experience and will solidify his spot in the future.

GreenLantern wrote:I have always wondered from an outside perspective why Tyler Kennedy is playing on anything but the 4th line.. good to see it wasn't just an outsiders perspective.

Jarmoe Imgla brings a lot more to the table than what you will see on the ice. He is a born leader, people respect him no matter which side of the ice they are on. Jarome's true value comes in the dressing room. Classy player that will boost the confidence of those around him and just make them want to play harder.

The other area Iggy is going to boost the Pens is on the physical side. I was really hoping the Pens would meet up with a team that has given them physical problems before in the playoffs, because that is exactly where Iggy will thrive. A lot of teams in the past have had the strategy of don't wake him up, don't hit him, don't trash talk him and whatever you do don't piss him off. I suspect a lot of players out east here won't be used to playing against Iggy as much and will make that mistake a few times through out the playoffs. Then you are all in for a real treat

Oh I hope so. A mean streak is what I have NOT seen from him at all (I really didn't get to see him much in Calgary other than the finals years ago). I want to see him out there wrecking people and taking over. He had one shift last game where he was all over the ice in control of the puck the whole time. I think he is trying still trying to figure out his spots to assert himself but I want to see his "Battle level" up a few notches.

The best player Shero got was Eaton. Yeah the trades of players who wanted to be here. Jussi and Dougie were solid additions that is for sure. But picking a guy who was pretty much sitting on his couch hoping a team would call has got to be his best move this year.